Indiana Pacers LINES, ODDS, PICKS AND REVIEWS

How is the Indiana Pacers' History?

The Indiana Pacers are a basketball club headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers are a member of the Eastern Conference Central Division of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers were formed in 1967 as part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and joined the NBA in 1976 due to the ABA–NBA merger. 

All of the Pacers' home games are held at Bainbridge Fieldhouse. The team's name comes from the state of Indiana's involvement in the Indianapolis 500 and harness racing.

In 2000, the Indiana Pacers won the NBA Eastern Conference championship. With three ABA titles and nine division titles, the Pacers  featured several Hall of Famers in their lineup for many years. Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Alex English, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and George McGinnis played for the team for more than five seasons.

How Were the Indiana Pacers Founded?

The Indiana Pacers were founded when six investors bought the first professional basketball team in Indiana in 1967. The six founders were attorney Richard Tinkham, John DeVoe, Chuck Devoe, sports agent Chuck Barnes and Indianapolis Star writer Bob Collins.

According to Indianapolis attorney Richard Tinkham, the name "Pacers" was chosen by a vote of the original investors. One of the investors, Tinkham, explained that the name was derived from a combination of Indiana's rich history with harness racing pacers and the pace car that drove its Indianapolis 500. Investor Chuck Barnes was a horse racing enthusiast in addition to being the manager of Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt, and Rodger Ward. Barnes' wife, Lois, sprang up the name. 

According to Tinkham, they chose the name "Pacers" to commemorate the city's roots in aircraft manufacturing. However, the real debate concerned whether or not the team should be called the Indiana Pacers or the Indianapolis Pacers. A result of one of the initial ideas for the squad was to play games throughout Indiana with its base in Indianapolis. Thus, the name Indiana Pacers.

They moved to downtown Indianapolis after seven years at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, now called the Pepsi Coliseum. For 25 years, they've been performing in Market Square Arena.

The Pacers' second season was not free from controversy, as they had to deal with the resignation of Larry Staverman. This resulted in Bob "Slick" Leonard taking over as head coach. Leonard immediately turned the Pacers into a force to be reckoned with.The superb play of stars such as Jimmy Rayl, Mel Daniels, George McGinnis, Freddie Lewis, Bob Netolicky, Rick Mount, and Roger Brown.

The Indiana Pacers were one of just two franchises (along with the Kentucky Colonels) to play for the entire duration of the ABA without changing its name, relocating, or folding. They also became the most successful franchise in league history over a four-year period, appearing in five ABA Finals and winning three ABA Championships.

How is the Indiana Pacers' Reggie Miller Era?

The Pacers selected Reggie Miller out of UCLA in 1987, making him a backup to John Long. Many supporters condemned the Pacers for selecting Reggie Miller over Indiana University's Steve Alford. The Indiana Pacers missed the playoffs in 1987–88, selecting Rik Smits with the sixth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and endured a poor 1988–89 campaign. Following an 0–7 start to his coaching career, Jack Ramsay stepped down as head coach of the team. 

Interim head coach Dick Versace led the 6–23 squad before becoming the Mavericks' 28–54 finish. Herb Williams, a veteran center, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February 1989 for Detlef Schrempf, who would win the NBA Sixth Man-of-the-Year award.

From 1989 to 1993, the Pacers would perform .500 ball at least once each season and qualify for the playoffs; in 1989–90, the Pacers had a fast start that resulted in their third playoff appearance. The Indiana Pacers were swept by the Detroit Pistons, who went on to win their second straight NBA Championship.

On the strength of his 24.6 points-per-game average, Reggie Miller became the first Pacers All-Star since 1976. The Indiana Pacers of the early 1990s were a team in transition. After four straight first-round playoff defeats, they found themselves up against the Boston Celtics in the 1991 playoffs.

The Pacers returned to the playoffs in 1992 and squared off against the Celtics.

However, the Celtics made it clear who was superior in three straight victories over the Pacers. In the off-season, Chuck Person and point guard Micheal Williams were sent to Minnesota. At the same time, Indiana got Pooh Richardson and Sam Mitchell. Detlef Schrempf advanced from sixth man to small forward in the starting lineup in 1992–93, being the first All-Star game selection.

That season, he became the Pacers' all-time leader in three-pointers made, and he currently ranks fourth overall in NBA history. They were ousted in four games by the New York Knicks in the first round this season.

The table shows the career summary of Reggie Miller as of the writing:

How is the Indiana Pacers Paul George Era?

In the 2010 NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers grabbed Paul George with the 10th pick. In the second round, they took Lance Stephenson and Ryan Reid. Magnum Rolle's draft rights were traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night in exchange for Reid's rights. 

On July 1, 2010, the Pacers inked George to his first contract. On July 22, Stephenson put pen to paper on a multi-year deal with the team. Rolle was acquired shortly before camp and then rapidly cut. Allred, a big man, was signed shortly before the start of the season.

George made his NBA debut on October 27 against the San Antonio Spurs, appearing for 23 minutes and recording 4 points on 1–5 shooting. He hit five three-pointers and ended with a then-career-high 23 points in a game against the Washington Wizards. George averaged 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 45 percent shooting in his rookie season while starting 19 of 61 games. 

He also showed his defensive abilities, leading the club in thefts per minute. George was one of just two rookies from the 2010 NBA Draft to start in the playoffs for his club, the other being Landry Fields of the New York Knicks. In the playoffs, the Pacers were defeated in five games by the Chicago Bulls, led by Derrick Rose. Following his rookie season, George was selected to the 2011 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In December, George was named the NBA's Player of the Week for the first time in his career, winning three straight games against Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit. 

On November 21, 2012, George hit nine three-pointers to establish a new career-high with 37 points in a win over New Orleans. George was picked to participate in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, held in Houston that year. 

On September 25, 2013, George's contract with the Indiana Pacers was extended for one additional year. The deal will begin after his rookie contract expired in 2014. The nine 3-pointers set the franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a game, surpassing Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.

During the 2014 off-season, George was named to the initial training camp roster for the U.S. national team, which would compete at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. During a Las Vegas scrimmage, George fractured both bones in his lower right leg. 

After landing awkwardly on a basket stanchion, George was taken off the court as he fouled James Harden. George went into surgery for the fracture, with a pin being inserted in his leg. He was deemed likely to miss the entire 2014–15 season while no official prognosis was made public.

George George was given the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award for October and November. He aided the Indiana Pacers in winning 11 of their 13 games after an 0–3 start to the season as a member of the Indiana Pacers. He dropped 48 points in a 122–119 overtime defeat against Utah two days later.

The table shows the career summary of Paul George as of the writing:

How is the Indiana Pacers Danny Granger Era?

After being chosen 17th overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 78 contests. He earned a spot on the T-Mobile Rookies Challenge in Houston during All-Star Weekend in February 2006. He had nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot over six minutes while shooting 2-of-4 from a distance.

During the 2006–07 season, Granger was one of only four Pacers players in the previous 15 years to reach 100+ 3-point field goals in a season. He led Indiana with 110 after making just 30 three-pointers as a rookie. He was the only member of the Pacers to appear in all 82 games.

In the 2007–08 season, Granger was the Cavs' top scorer with a 19.6 point average. On November 5, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Tuesday, October 30 through Sunday, November 4. His first and only NBA Player of the Week award came in January. He established a franchise mark by making 65 consecutive free throws (January 21 to February 22), surpassing Reggie Miller's record set in 2005.

Granger re-signed with the Pacers on October 31, 2008, for a reported $60 million over five years. The new deal started in 2009–10 and had incentives that might have brought the total closer to $65 million.

In 2008–09, Granger became the first player in NBA history to average more than 25 points per game in three seasons and the first Indiana Pacers player to do so in more than 30 years. He was fifth in the league with 25.8 points and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player.

Granger's average of 26.6 points per game in 2004–05 was the best by an Indiana player since Billy Knight's single-season club record of 26.6 points per game in 1977–78. Granger scored 20 or more points 16 times in a row, tying the Pacers' NBA record, from December 15 to January 19.

During the three-game span between January 3 and 7, George scored 35 or more points in each contest, becoming just the fourth Pacers player to do so. He appeared in his first and only NBA All-Star Game in February 2009. He had 11 games missed due to injury or illness during February and March, including seven due to a fractured tendon in his right foot.

In the 2009–10 season, Granger led the Pacers with 24.1 points per game, placing him eighth in the NBA and third in the Eastern Conference. He scored 20 or more points 46 times over 62 appearances and 30 or more points 16 times. On March 26, 2010, he had a career-best 44 points against the Utah Jazz.

Granger, who was obtained from the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal for veteran forward Ron Artest and his $10 million salaries in 2010–11, became the Pacers' top scorer for the fourth year in a row, with 20.5 points per game (16th best in the NBA), as well as a third consecutive season of more than 20 points per game.

Granger was the Pacers' top scorer for the fifth straight season in 2011–12, as he averaged 18.7 points per game.

The table shows the career summary of Danny Granger as of the writing:

What are the Symbols of Indiana Pacers?

The newest Indiana Pacers logo was introduced in 2017. It comprises the blue capital "P" and the yellow basketball of its predecessors, which are positioned inside a yellow circle trimmed with dark blue writing that reads "Indiana Pacers." A black-blue-and-silver outline is included on the circle.

What is the Indiana Pacers' Logo?

The Indiana Pacers’ logo was a solid blue letter "P" with a vertically positioned white hand clutching a yellow basketball on the right side. This basic yet bright and memorable combination served as the foundation for all subsequent redesigns of the club's emblem.

The team name "Indiana Pacers" was added to the right side of the emblem, on its bottom region. The typeface was written in an italicized serif style, which looked attractive and professional, balancing the bold and modern appearance of the visual part.

In 1990, the hard was removed from the logo, and the lines of the other elements were sharpened and updated. The new emblem had a bigger, darker "P" on its rounded portion with a yellow basketball in its center, with three lines extending out to the left. An italicized "Pacers" is added in front of the emblem's logo.

The famous "P" was highlighted in thin gray in 2005, and the wordmark's typography was changed. The new inscription utilized a geometric and modern Sans-serif with prominent flattened blue letterforms. The nameplate had a considerable distance between the symbols, balancing the heavy and solid emblem with Addis's freshness and finesse.

They enclosed the "P" from the prior year in a thick yellow and blue circular frame in 2017, placed on a white circle. The lettering was now around the frame's perimeter in blue, using a brightened Sans-serif typeface for its capitals with plenty of breathing room between them. The new badge reflects the club's ability to develop and alter while preserving a link to the past.

How is the Indiana Pacers' Uniform?

The Indiana Pacers’ uniform during the ABA used the primary colors gold, blue, and white. George McGinnis is wearing the Pacers' main jersey in the shot on the left. The Pacers feature a distinctive logo with a diagonal angle.

The Indiana Pacers' logo evolved through the years. Still, you can see how the current iconic 'P' Logo developed following its debut in the ABA.

The addition of a golden and white trim to the Pacers' jersey in the 1979-80 season compared to the jersey from 1976-78 was the most significant difference. Otherwise, the attire was virtually identical to that worn in 1976-78.

The Pacers hadn't strayed from blue on gold or gold on blue jerseys until the mid-eighties, with Indiana written on the front. The 1985 Jersey, on the other hand, revolutionized how the Pacers appeared. The new Pacers had a blue jersey with a middle gold band and the words "Pacers" printed on it. The Pacers' performance was not much better, posting a 26-56 record. At least the Pacers played the season in style, even if their results were poor.

The Indiana Pacers also released a throwback jersey during the 2003 and 2004 campaigns. This outfit was designed as a tribute to the ABA Pacers era.

The jersey was primarily blue with a gold line from the shoulder to the opposite hip. The text Indiana was in white, while the numbers on each kit were gold with a white border.

Between 2005 and 2014, the Pacers used simpler jersey designs. During this period, the Icon Jersey for the Pacers featured a predominantly blue jersey with gold trim and white and gold lettering and numbers.

The home shirt was white with gold trim on the side and a blue and gold v-neck. The text is a dark blue with a gold border, as are the number and name.

In 2015, the Pacers celebrated their 20th anniversary with a retro jersey homage to the 1990-97 Indiana Pacers. The jersey was introduced, and the NBA held a Hardwood Classics Night event. It was decided that the Indiana Pacers would wear this uniform at that time.

The City Jerseys have revolutionized how fans view NBA apparel. Indiana is a racing state, which explains why the city jerseys are emblems of speed or stock car racing.

The yellow of the city jersey for Indiana was checkered to represent indy stock car racing, another popular sport in the state.

The Indiana Pacers City Jersey, which debuted for the 2019-2020 season, pays homage to indy racing. The jersey is mostly white, with a blue and black checkered flag trim on the left side. Pacers are written in white with a gold trim above the checkered flag.

What are the Indiana Pacers' Colors?

The Indiana Pacers’ colors are blue, yellow, and silver.

The table belows shows the specific color codes of the Indiana Pacers:

Who are the Indiana Pacers’ Players?

The Indiana Pacers’ players are led by Malcolm Brogdon, Tyrese, Haliburton, Buddy Hield, T.J. Warren, and Myles Turner. 

The Indiana Pacers kept a fairly consistent pace throughout the off-season. Myles Turner's trade talk went on for weeks without progressing any farther. There was talk of the 'Cers trading Malcolm Brogdon and resetting things. However, none of it came to pass, and it appears that Indiana will give this group one more year to see what happens before breaking it up. 

On draft night, Indiana picked Chris Duarte and traded for Isaiah Jackson. Duarte, a highly talented all-around guard/wing, should play from the start. However, he will most likely not start since T.J. Warren and Caris Levert have secured the two-guard and small forward positions ahead of him. If the Pacers don't make any last-minute deals, they'll start with Malcolm Brogdon, Caris Levert, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner.

The table below shows the Indiana Pacers' depth chart:

How did Herbert Simon's Ownership Affect the Indiana Pacers?

Herbert "Herb" Simon is a real estate entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the field of commercial development both in his home state of Indiana and beyond. A graduate of the City College of New York, Simon began his career by founding a small real estate firm in Indianapolis that specialized in developing suburban shopping malls. 

However, it was his next venture that catapulted him to success: the creation of Simon Property Group, one of the largest shopping mall developers in the world and being the owner of the Indiana Pacers.

A week after The Athletic said the Pacers are moving toward a rebuild, George Simon made some remarks about the recent performance of the Pacers. Indiana finished the 2020-21 campaign at .500 and has 13 wins and 18 losses this season, prompting roster adjustments. This current Pacers nucleus has never progressed past the first round of the postseason.

The team's lack of success in recent years and its poor attendance and negative fan opinion add to the club's reputation as futility. To rejuvenate the fanbase, the team may require some sort of change.

Simon is correct: former Indiana executives Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird and president David Pritchard have rotated teams while keeping the most competitive. The Pacers won with Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neale, Danny Granger, Paul George, Victor Oladipo, and Domantas Sabonis as their top players. There were no higher draft picks used to acquire any of those players. Indiana's resilience in not completely bottoming out is remarkable.

It's tough to pull off. The Pacers might stink if you make a few mistakes in a row - without the benefit of a rebuild kicking off. Now that Sabonis, Turner, and LeVert are available for draft picks, the Pacers could trade them for considerable draft assets.

The Pacers have been leaning into their lukewarm status for several years, at least until the floor fell out last season. The Pacers ever won a postseason game despite it. They're only 13-18 this season, but they've outperformed their opponents by a wide margin. They might do anything at this point.

Simon thinks that things will improve in areas such as on the court, television streaming, and attendance. That's why he isn't in a panic. However, he is aware of where things may be heading as the Pacers continue to struggle this year.

Simon will decide the future of the franchise. It might simply be gamesmanship on his part. On the other hand, Simon appears to have made up his mind.

What are the Indiana Pacers' Championships?

Here is the summary of the 1970 - ABA Finals:

• Game 1 (May 15) @ Indiana: Indiana 109, Los Angeles 93
• Game 2 (May 17) @ Indiana: Indiana 114, Los Angeles 111
• Game 3 (May 18) @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 109, Indiana 106
• Game 4 (May 19) @ Los Angeles: Indiana 142, Los Angeles 120
• Game 5 (May 23) @ Indiana: Los Angeles 117, Indiana 113
• Game 6 (May 25) @ Los Angeles: Indiana 111, Los Angeles 107

Indiana Pacers prevailed over Los Angeles Stars four games to two in the ABA Finals to capture their first championship.

The Indiana Pacers had the NBA's best record in the regular season (59-25, .702) before capturing the ABA title. The Oakland Oaks accomplished this same feat a year before, with the Pittsburgh Pipers doing it in 1978.

The Pacers were the first ABA champions to repeat the same form for the next season. The Oakland Oaks became the Washington Caps, and the Pittsburgh Pipers became Minnesota Pipers for the 1969-1970 ABA campaign.

The Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs was Indiana's, Roger Brown.

Here is the summary of the 1972 ABA Finals:

• Game 1 (May 6) @ Indiana: Indiana 124, New York 103
• Game 2 (May 9) @ Indiana: New York 117, Indiana 115
• Game 3 (May 12) @ New York: Indiana 114, New York 108
• Game 4 (May 15) @ New York: New York 110, Indiana 105
• Game 5 (May 18) @ Indiana: Indiana 100, New York 99
• Game 6 (May 20) @ New York: Indiana 108, New York 105

The Indiana Pacers prevailed four games to two in the 1972 ABA Finals, defeating the New York Nets.

Even though the Kentucky Colonels had the best record in ABA history (68-16, .810), defeating the New York Nets eight times in 11 regular-season games and outscoring them 24 games to 0 in the standings, they lost their first-round series against them.

On April 6, 1972, the Floridians played their last game, a 115-106 loss against the Virginia Squires in their Eastern Division semifinal series. Rookie Julius Erving dominated the series four games to 0 behind his 32 rebounds in three of those four games. On June 13, 1972, the league purchased the Floridians and ended the team.

When the Indiana Pacers won their second consecutive league title, they became the first ABA dynasty. The Pacers' Freddie Lewis was voted the ABA playoffs' Most Valuable Player.

It was the first time two future NBA teams faced off for the ABA Championship. It was only repeated once in league history during its last year, 1976, when the Denver Nuggets beat the Colonels 4-3 to confront the Nets in the ABA finals.

Here is the summary of the 1973  ABA Finals:

• Game 1 (Apr 28) @ Kentucky: Indiana 111, Kentucky 107
• Game 2 (Apr 30) @ Kentucky: Kentucky 114, Indiana 102
• Game 3 (May 3) @ Indiana: Kentucky 92, Indiana 88
• Game 4 (May 5) @ Indiana: Indiana 90, Kentucky 86
• Game 5 (May 8) @ Kentucky: Indiana 89, Kentucky 86
• Game 6 (May 10) @ Indiana: Kentucky 109, Indiana 93
• Game 7 (May 12) @ Kentucky: Indiana 88, Kentucky 81

The Western Division champion Indiana Pacers prevailed over the Eastern Division champion Kentucky Colonels, four games to three in the ABA Finals.

Three of the top ABA teams in 1970 were unable to win the title. The Carolina Cougars had the best record in the league, at 57-27, one game ahead of Kentucky Colonels (56-28, .667) in the Eastern Division. The Utah Stars defeated the Indiana Pacers by four games in the Western Conference with a 55-29 record, earning the Western Division title. The Indiana Pacers won the league championship after posting a regular-season record of 51-33 (.607).

The Pacers were the first team to win a third ABA crown. The Colonels were the first team in ABA history to lose two championship series. The series also marked the second time in three years that the Colonels lost the ABA finals 4-3; it had happened after the 1971 ABA Playoffs against the Utah Stars.

The Colonels defeated the Pacers in the championship round of the 1973 ABA Finals, their second encounter. George McGinnis of the Pacers was voted the ABA playoffs' Most Valuable Player.

How is the Indiana Pacers' season-by-season record?

The table shows the Indiana Pacers’ season-by-season record:

What Is the Average Cost for Indiana Pacers Tickets?

The average cost for Indiana Pacers tickets is $102. However, ticket prices may vary depending on the game and seat location. Tickets for Sunday games are typically more expensive than tickets for weekday games. 

To get the best deal on Indiana Pacers tickets, it is recommended that you purchase them in advance.

Where to Buy Indiana Pacers Tickets?

Various outlets offer tickets for matches of Indiana Pacers. Some of them are StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and Ticketmaster, a partner of the NBA.

How are the Indiana Pacers' last five years?

The table shows the Indiana Pacers’ last five years: